Led by neurosurgeon James Kryzanski, MD, the Epilepsy Surgery team at Tufts Medical Center successfully implanted the first NeuroPace RNS System at the hospital in downtown Boston, MA. The Epilepsy Center at Tufts MC, which recently received a Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center status (the highest level available) from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, is one of the first in Boston to offer this treatment for “medication-resistant” epilepsy.
People with medication-resistant epilepsy have typically tried other methods to control their seizures, including medication, without success. If medication is ineffective, neurosurgeons may recommend removing a localized area of the brain that is triggering the seizures. When the area of the brain triggering this abnormal activity is unable to be removed due to its size or function (i.e. the area that controls speech), implanting the NeuroPace RNS System device may be an option.
The RNS System consists of a small, battery-powered device called a neurostimulator that is surgically implanted in the skull. The neurostimulator is connected to leads (tiny wires) that are placed in one-to-two areas that are triggering the patient’s seizures.
The device records brain activity in those areas and archives it online so that you and your doctor can login any time to review information about your seizure activity and treatment progress. After a period of time collecting this data, the device is programmed to detect abnormal activity and deliver stimulation to the brain, interrupting the activity and preventing the seizure.
Learn more about the Tufts MC Epilepsy Center >
